HARTFORD, CT- The Trinity College football team will visit NESCAC rival Colby College on Sat., Sept. 25 at 1:30 p.m. in the opening game of the 1999 season. The game will be the first without legendary coach Don Miller at the helm since 1967, and the head coaching debut of long-time defensive coordinator and head baseball coach Bill Decker.

Trinity posted an uncharacteristic 2-6 record in 1998, while the Colby White Mules were also 2-6. Last fall, Trinity defeated Colby, at home, by a score of 21-7. Senior running back Mike Ladd (Newburyport, MA) rushed for 51 yards and a touchdown in the Bantam victory The Bantams lead the all-time series, 28-13, and have won eight of the last 10 meetings between the two schools.

The Bantams look to senior quarterback Gregg Wysocki (New Britain, CT) to pick up where he left off after becoming the starter late last season. Wysocki played his best game in the season finale at Wesleyan University, throwing for 338 yards and four touchdowns. Wysocki will benefit from one the NESCAC's top offensive lines featuring senior co-captain Brian Blanchard (Melrose, MA), who moves back to center from tackle, 1997 ECAC Co-Rookie of the Year Jay Civetti (Wellesley, MA) at guard, and two-year starter Mike Carucci (Wethersfield, CT) at tackle.

Ladd returns with sophomore fullback Matt Gjerulff (Rockville, MD) and senior Mike Healey (Newburyport, MA) in the offensive backfield, while senior tight end Sean Furey (Winchester, MA) and senior split end Jay Wright (Yeadon, PA) are back as receivers. Furey caught 28 passes for 465 yards in seven games last season. Sophomore split end Steve Cella (Peabody, MA), who also starts on defense at safety, sophomore lineman Jason Lewis (Plympton, MA), sophomore tight end Ray Cattaneo (Canton, MA), and freshman back Brian Fabrizio (Norwell, MA) should also make an impact early on offense.

The Bantam defense welcomes back several seniors with starting experience, led by co-captain safety Sean Joyce (Quincy, MA). Joyce, who had 45 tackles and two interceptions in 1998, is a versatile player who shifts from linebacker to defensive back depending on the situation. Doug Borgerson (Drexel Hill, PA) and Brendan McDavitt (Plymouth, MA) are both experienced veterans and should start at cornerback.

Linebackers Brian LaHaie (Silver Spring, MD),Dale Phelps (Pittsfield, MA), and Jeff Iudice (Melrose, MA) are all returning starters. LaHaie had 10 sacks in 1997 and 58 tackles in 1998 from one outside position, while Phelps totaled 52 tackles on the other side. Iudice led the Bantams in tackles last fall with 72 and posted 5.5 sacks. On the defensive line, tackle Blue Eaves (Cincinnati, OH) and end Nate Barad (Norfolk, MA) are both in their third year as starters. The pair combined for 5.5 sacks and 34 tackles in 1998. Several young players will play important roles on defense as well, including Cella at safety, sophomore Tom Osuch (Fairhaven, MA) at defensive back, junior transfer Trevor Jackson (San Francisco, CA) at linebacker, and junior tackle Mike Mobley (Ketchum, ID) at tackle.

Colby, coached by Tom Austin (14th season, 44-59-1), will rely on senior tri-captain running back Tom Keblin and a solid defense. Keblin was fourth in the NESCAC in rushing last season. Fellow senior tri-captain Darren Ireland also returns after earning All-NESCAC honors in 1998 as a punter.